Sacred Serentiy "Enemy In the Clouds"

For some reason, Pennsylvania has a hard time producing a solid metal-core band with potential for more success than just being praised in the local scene. Nate Parker and Pat Scanlon are the brain children behind the new metal act, Sacred Serenity, coming out of Perkasie, Pennsylvania. The band’s seven song debut EP Enemy in the Clouds was recorded and mixed in completely do it yourself fashion. Enemy in the Clouds was recorded in Perkasie at Cancer Studios which vocalist, Pat Scanlon, describes as “an old friends studio that was literally in a barn”, then together Pat and Nate mixed the EP to create a much more solid sound. The combination of free recording and mixing adds up to a surprisingly well put together record, that should be on any metal heads playlist.
Enemy in the Clouds combines hard hitting breakdowns with soft well written melodies to create a sound unique to the underground scene. Nate Parker’s guitar work is exactly what every metal guitarist should be, fast, precise and technical. Fans of lots of melody and what is obviously quick finger work will love this EP. The bass can be a little harder to hear (which is probably due to the lower quality of the final mixes) but when heard, it matches the guitar note for note.
Pat Scanlon’s vocals are both intimidating and jaw dropping. The vocals on the EP range from high to low and have listeners feel the evil of his voice flow through their veins. Lyrically it is one of the most dominating and forceful EPs that can be heard today. For instance, in the song Death in Solitude, the second verse begins with the line “Fuck your infectious ways” making whoever is on the receiving end of that line, aware that they are scum.
My only complaint with the EP is the drumming, although not completely off, it is by no means as tight as the other elements of the EP. This could be because it was recorded by a substitute drummer or something in the mixing process didn’t fall through as it should have. Regardless this is still one of the best metal-core EPs that anyone will find in the scene today.
Enemy in the Clouds will attract all audiences and pulls influences from Whitechapel to All That Remains. It has the heavy breakdowns the hardcore scene, the quick melodies of any melodic death metal band today and even the soft sung choruses of popular metal-core acts such as As I Lay Dying and Trivium.
Sacred Serenity will be entering Lonely RD Recordings in Perkasie at the end of March to record a newer EP which will be titled Divulgence. The band will be playing shows during the summer to promote both EPs and I’ll be very surprised if it doesn’t turn heads. Enemy in the Clouds can be heard in its entirety on the bands myspace,www.myspace.com/sacredserenitypa, where listeners can find a link to download the entire EP.